My healthy-eating mantra is if you begin your meal off with a fiber-rich appetizer, you’ll fill up on healthy calories and eat better over the course of the night. So, I put that rule into effect when developing The Biggest Loser Thanksgiving menu and started things off with this Roasted Sweet Potato Dip and Toasted Sage Dip. It’s just a few ingredients yet packs tons of flavor and can accommodate almost any diet as it’s vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, lowfat, and low calorie.

Instructions

Heat oven to 450°F and arrange a rack in middle. Using a pastry brush, coat one rimmed baking sheet with 1 tablespoon of the oil, add the potatoes and 1/2 teaspoon of the kosher salt and toss to thoroughly coat. Spread in a single layer on prepared baking sheet and roast, stirring occasionally, until potatoes are knife tender, about 20 minutes.

Remove from oven and set aside to cool slightly. Meanwhile, heat remaining 1 tablespoon of the oil in a medium frying pan over medium heat. When the oil shimmers, add the sage and garlic. Cook, swirling a few times, until sage is fragrant and garlic toasted golden brown. Remove from heat and set aside.

When cool enough to handle, transfer potatoes to a food processor fitted with a metal blade. Add all remaining ingredients and puree until very smooth, stopping to scrape down sides, as necessary

Serve warm or let cool then serve with roasted vegetable chips (recipe follows), raw crisp vegetables, or crackers. (Can be made up to 5 days ahead and stored refrigerated in an airtight container. Serve at room temperature or slightly warm.)

I too am in love with sweet potatoes and, as a result, this dip has become my new fall snack. Luckily, it’s lowfat and lowcal so I don’t feel too guilty about it!

http://www.theurbanbaker.com susan

what a fabulous idea, Aida! I never would have thought to make a dip out of sweet potatoes! so inspiring.

http://www.aidamollenkamp.com Aida Mollenkamp

thanks, susan!

http://www.twopeasandtheirpod.com Maria

I have to make this! Yum!

Kendall Park

Literally made this immediately after reading it. Keep the amazing recipes coming. I’ve seen just about every episode of your show, and I’m excited to see your new work!

http://www.aidamollenkamp.com Aida Mollenkamp

Thanks, Kendall!

http://www.betterrecipes.com/blogs/daily-dish/ KristinaVanni

YUM! I am always up for a good dip

http://www.aidamollenkamp.com Aida Mollenkamp

Me too! I’m not much of a snacker but I do love a good dip.

http://twitter.com/AllisonnTweets Allison in LA

I am so intrigued. I love sweet potato and I love sage. I must try this soon. Thanks Aida!

http://www.aidamollenkamp.com Aida Mollenkamp

Yay! The combo is really nice together so I encourage you to try it. This is one of my favorite recipes of all those I made for The Biggest Loser menu.

Ontimeswanson

I made this and it was very tasty but I’m having trouble finding a good food to dip in it. Crackers seemed too heavy, celery seemed too bland, & it seemed weird dipping carrots in a potato dip. I don’t have the patience to make the beet crackers. May have to just use a thinner cracker. Any suggestions?

http://www.aidamollenkamp.com Aida Mollenkamp

Ontimeswanson: We used a thin flatbread cracker during Thanksgiving and that worked really well.

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